The biggest AR/VR event of the year is Meta Connect 2024, where Meta showcases its latest advancements in virtual reality and mixed reality technologies. This event, previously known as Oculus Connect and Facebook Connect, is now the platform where Meta reveals its plans for the future. The focus this year seems to be on AI and AR, as Meta competes with other big tech firms to stay relevant in a world dominated by artificial intelligence.
Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, is expected to unveil his plans for augmented reality, especially after the launch of Apple’s Vision Pro earlier this year. The combination of AI and AR could potentially lead to the creation of persistent virtual worlds, although Zuckerberg’s interest in the metaverse seems to have waned. Nonetheless, Meta is working on developing Orion AR glasses, which could revolutionize the way we interact with reality.
Orion AR glasses are designed to overlay holographic imagery on the real world, similar to Magic Leap and Microsoft’s HoloLens. However, Orion aims to be less cumbersome and more user-friendly. Zuckerberg has hinted at the potential of these glasses, calling them a “big deal” and teasing a prototype version that will be revealed soon. In addition to the AR glasses, Meta is also rumored to be launching a cheaper variant of the Quest 3, known as the Quest 3S, to bridge the performance gap between the Quest 3 and Quest 2.
The Quest 3S is expected to be priced competitively, starting at $299, and may even come without bundled controllers to further reduce costs. This move could make it easier for developers to create games that work across different price points. Moreover, Meta is likely to showcase its advancements in AI, particularly in the Quest headsets and Ray-Ban smart glasses. The company has been working on improving its Llama 3.1 large language model to enhance translation, math, and general knowledge capabilities.
Overall, Meta Connect 2024 promises to be an exciting event with innovations in AI, AR, and affordable VR technology. Stay tuned for more updates from the event, which kicks off virtually tomorrow and runs for two days.
